Trusted Computing Update Trusted Computing Update Marshall D. Abrams, Ph.D. Michael V. Joyce The MITRE Corporation 7525 Colshire Drive McLean, VA 22102 703-883-6938
[email protected] This is the second paper of a series of three related papers that examine contemporary information technology concepts. The first paper examined how the security community developed the accepted concepts and criteria, looked at changes currently ongoing, and provided insight into the driving forces and probable directions. This paper presents contemporary thinking about object management and summarizes vertical and horizontal extensions to the Trusted Computing Base (TCB) concept. 1 INTRODUCTION The evolution in computer software architecture has prompted significant changes in the structure of security functions and the composition of trusted information technology systems. Conventionally, most of the security-relevant functions are concentrated within the operating system. Often, these functions, especially those dealing with access control, are commingled with object management functions. This natural inclination to commingle these functions draws attention to the relevance of object management in achieving security goals. Following an introduction of the object manager function, this paper examines the relationships between object management and the vertical and horizontal extensions for structuring the Trusted Computing Base and describes representative examples of access control techniques in contemporary information technology systems. This paper was first published in Computers & Security, Vol. 14 No.1 pp. 57-68, © Elsevier Advanced Technology 1995, Oxford, UK; http://www.elsevier.nl/locate/compsec. This is the second of three related papers. 1 Trusted Computing Update 2 OBJECTS AND OBJECT MANAGEMENT An object manager is a logical function responsible for handling and controlling entities in the logical address space.